Harbour of Refuge Read online

  “Care to test your theory?”

  “Sex with a stranger in a cramped space…let me think. Hmm. Perhaps it would be better if we just stripped and did it out here, so my ass can be flashed all around the papers.”

  “Can’t really call me a stranger, sweetheart.”

  “Why not?”

  He leaned close and breathed deep at the graceful curve of her neck. “You wouldn’t go off with a stranger.”

  She gave a snort of laughter before rotating her ankles. Her really adorable ankles. He’d bet even her feet were sexy. She hid her true beauty, but he could see it.

  “I have a feeling you could get a woman to ignore most of her common sense and go off with you.”

  “But not you?”

  “Didn’t say that, I’m here aren’t I?”

  So she was. “Tell me about you.”

  “Not much to tell, my life is rather quiet and mundane. Unlike your fast lifestyle.”

  “You think that’s all I like? Flash and dash?”

  “Yes. Granted, I see what you show the public with their cameras, the practised smiles, models, fancy cars. I can honestly say I didn’t think to be sitting here in the moonlight with you.”

  He hadn’t thought either, but he was content to just be with her. The sex would come later, right now he wanted to know her as a person.

  “So you do follow me.”

  “Not hardly.”

  Ouch. “Very cut-to-the-chase and candid there.” He watched her expression as she seemed to realise what she’d said. Part of him expected a fawning apology—he wasn’t sure why—for her statement. It never came. Not a fawning one, anyway.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound like that. I just read up on you on the flight here. Mila didn’t want me to embarrass her by asking some dumb question.” A slight shrug. “This just isn’t my thing.”

  He wondered if he could change her mind, but he admired her straightforwardness. “What is your thing then, Halyn Jennings? Do you like sports?”

  “I do, I like football.”

  “NFC or AFC?”

  “MLS and the EPL.”

  It took him a few moments for her comment to register. “Soccer?”

  She sighed. “Football, yes.”

  Halyn moved towards the bow and he missed her body beside him, her hair in his hand. He stared at her and subtly shifted his rigid length to a more comfortable position in his jeans.

  “Do you ever go out at night and enjoy the beauty?”

  He pushed up and walked to stand behind her. “Not often. If I’m on the water, I’m usually racing.”

  “Shame,” she muttered.

  He agreed it was beautiful.

  “This…what you’re doing is offshore racing?”

  “Absolutely. I’m going to Dubai next to participate in the XCat race. Then we’re heading back to the States.”

  “East or West Coast?”

  “West.” He rested his chin on the bouncy springs of her hair. Their bodies moved easily with the gentle rocking of the boat. “Where do you live?”

  What in the hell was he doing? He’d not even slept with her and he wanted to know where she called home.

  “Small town in Oregon.”

  He turned her to him and began to move them to music only he heard. Perhaps she heard it as well, for she never hesitated before following his lead.

  “My brother and sister-in-law live in Oregon with their children. Triplets.”

  “Oh my, that’s a handful.”

  “I told her she’s always been an overachiever.”

  Halyn rested her head against his chest as they fell silent and continued to dance. The only word he could find to describe the situation was ‘right’.

  “Is this something you do with everyone or am I just special?”

  Halyn tilted her head so she could see the man who currently held her. He did so as if she were a priceless commodity he never wanted to relinquish. This was her first time dancing in the moonlight with a handsome—extremely handsome—man on a boat.

  He watched her with intensity, a singular focus she’d seen a few times before.

  “Definitely special.” The words came out raspy, as if he’d tried to strip them of emotion.

  She really liked being in his arms. They didn’t cover much ground, but she’d never had a more intimate dance. Yes, inside the party had been hot and erotic, people grinding together, pulses accelerating and the pounding urge to do the same with one minor adjustment—no clothes.

  His touch, strong and possessive, embraced her. She rested her cheek against his chest again. Were she a fanciful woman, this would be what she’d wish for her happily ever after. She smiled against the smooth fabric of his shirt, enjoying the moment.

  She offered no resistance when he lifted her chin and captured her lips with his own. Desire burst free within her as he kissed her. Some men hadn’t the least idea how to kiss. Enzo Cassano needed no help or instruction.

  Because he’s a player, her subconscious reminded her.

  Right here and now, she didn’t care. He delved, stroked and explored her mouth. His taste was heady and addictive. She wrapped her arms tight about his waist and leaned into him. Their tongues twisted along one another, passion ratcheting up with each passing moment.

  She struggled with the urge to grind into the noticeable, very hard proof of his desire. Her nipples were taut and rubbed against her bra, heightening her own arousal. It didn’t take a genius to know her panties were damp either.

  Yeah, playboy or not, she had it bad.

  A single thought ran a mantra through her mind. Enjoy him. Nothing more. Nothing less. One of his hands encircled the back of her neck and began rubbing. She moaned, arching like a cat to get more.

  “All fire and passion,” he muttered against her parted lips.

  He moved his other hand up her back, beneath her shirt. She squirmed closer. She craved his touch on her bare skin, wanted to explore his hard body. That wasn’t all—she wanted him, over her, under her, or hell, behind her. Most important to have his thick length moving inside her.

  Her legs wobbled a bit at the mental visual her traitorous thoughts created. She tightened her grip on him in an effort not to completely collapse and he responded with a deep rumble from low in his chest. She felt it everywhere and her body responded.

  It didn’t matter they were in public, all she could think about was the man who was kissing her with such finesse. She didn’t protest when he cupped her ass with one hand and hefted her up—she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  He lowered them so she straddled him, and she rocked against his stiff length. Trembling set up in the pit of her belly and she pressed closer to him. Craving more. Wanting more. Needing more.

  Enzo moved his hands to her hair and angled her head before plundering deeper. She went for his chest and swiftly, yet blindly, unbuttoned his shirt, sliding her hands along the heated, muscled planes.

  It had been so long since she’d been in a man’s arms. His skin was warm and inviting. She dragged her nails along his pecs and abs before curling her arms up around his shoulders.

  Closer. Need to be closer.

  She wriggled nearer. Thrusting her tongue against his, she smiled at his responding moan of approval. Her hips were perfectly aligned to have him settle exactly where she wanted him.

  “Halyn.” His voice rasped along her nerves, setting them afire.

  “I know…we have to stop.”

  “Only to move somewhere private.” He angled back so she could see his light brown eyes and settled one of his hands upon her cheek. “I don’t want others in with us.”

  “I shouldn’t.” Even as she spoke the words she understood they were in vain. She would follow him damn near anywhere.

  “You want me to take you back to the party?”

  There was strain in his voice and she knew he might be a player, but he was honourable and would never take advantage of a woman. She worried her lower lip then shoo
k her head.

  “No, let’s go somewhere.”

  His grin was immediate before he kissed her again. Another slow, drugging kiss which had her ready to say ‘to hell with going anywhere, we can do it here’, and offer herself to him.

  “We have to stop,” he mumbled. “Or we’re going nowhere but here, I don’t give a damn who may see.”

  She dragged her tongue along her lips, grasping all she could of his taste. Halyn slowly climbed off him. While he stood and righted his clothing, she smoothed a hand down her stomach—still filled with knots and butterflies—and regained her breath.

  “Come with me.”

  It was more of an order but at this very moment she didn’t give a damn. Not at all. Hand in hand they stepped onto the dock and walked towards the guards who kept non-owners from having access to the boats.

  She expected some smug look from them but got nothing except a reassuring squeeze from Enzo.

  “Do you have siblings?”

  His question was unexpected and she nearly stumbled. He tightened his grip on her and slowed their pace a bit.

  “You want to talk about if I have any brothers or sisters?”

  “How else will I get to know you? We have a bit before the hotel, did you not want to talk at all?”

  “I didn’t think you would.”

  He halted her beneath a street light. She gazed at him, lost in his eyes and waited for him to speak. An indescribable emotion flashed briefly, but it was gone too fast for her to identify.

  “Humour me.”

  She could do that. “I am an only child, although I was close to one cousin, he was like a brother to me.”

  “Was?”

  “He died almost five years ago now.” A fond smile lifted her lips at his memory. “His name was Kurt.”

  “I’m sorry to bring up bad memories.”

  A shake of the head. “You didn’t. Kurt was all about living life to the fullest and loving hard, each and every day. I miss him, yes, but when I think of him it’s a smile the memories bring to my face. What about you?”

  “There are four of us. Three boys. One girl.”

  She grinned at the thought of having siblings. He steadied her as they stepped off a kerb then crossed the street.

  “You’re the youngest.” She caught his grin in her periphery.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Just a guess.” They stepped back on the sidewalk and she saw the large hotel at the corner. Her steps faltered.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Fine.” Nerves didn’t count, did they? And she did want to be with him. “So are you?”

  “I am the youngest. Mama’s baby.”

  Family was good, kept her mind off the fact they were almost to his hotel. Where they would… Huh, would you look at that, she stumbled again.

  “And what, are all of you into boat racing? Is it a family venture?”

  “No, although my eldest brother, Valentino, did come out to see me here. He was the scowling one at the table this morning when you got the autographs.”

  “Oh, yes, I remember him.”

  He paused and she saw him contemplating.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Oh, yeah.” His remark full of sexual promise.

  She tugged on his arm to get him to stop and look at her. When he did, she spoke. “If you leave me here, no one will be the wiser.”

  Those brown eyes of his narrowed. He watched her for a few charged moments before his expression morphed into confusion.

  “Is that what you’d like? Me to leave you here?”

  Her? Oh, hell no. She shook her head. “Not at all, but you seem hesitant to go there with me.”

  “I am.”

  Years of schooling her features came in handy to keep the disappointment from showing on her face. “I see.”

  “No, I don’t think you do, sweetheart.”

  “How hard can it be to understand? You don’t want to take me through there. I get it. No big deal.” She turned to walk away, only to halt at his hand securing around her upper arm.

  She peered at him over her shoulder, an eyebrow lifted in question. Her stare flickered from his face to where he held her.

  “I was thinking of you. That perhaps you may not want your face plastered all over the papers. Then I stare at you and I think it doesn’t matter, just get you up to my room so I can finally remove your clothes and look at the body you’ve been tempting me beyond sanity with all night.”

  She dropped her gaze, pleasure rushing over her. He stepped closer to her, the heat from his body surrounding her like a cloak. Not that it was cold out, but still she wanted to roll in the warmth and soak it up.

  “I want to lick every inch of your skin. Feel your hair as it drags across my body. I want you on your back, hands and knees, side, any way as I slide deep into you. So make no mistake about my hesitation, for I sure as hell want you.”

  Trembling, she offered up no resistance when he reached for her hand. She gulped when he placed her palm over his crotch. There was no way she could ignore the stiffness behind the jean’s material. She flexed her fingers around him, he was thick and long, and he groaned.

  Her body responded and she swallowed hard. She wasn’t going to fool herself. She wanted him.

  “Then why are we still out here?”

  A rumble left him as he tugged her hand and got them on the way to the hotel. She watched him surreptitiously as they moved through the people lingering out front. He ignored the questions posed to him, just continued walking. When they realised that wouldn’t work, they turned on her. Halyn ignored them. It wasn’t as easy to ignore the cameras flashing but it wasn’t long before they were in the elevator heading up to where the paparazzi couldn’t come.

  The hall was silent and she forced herself to breathe calmer. Enzo fished in his back pocket before withdrawing a key he used to open the door. He placed his hand at the small of her back and nudged her in.

  When the door closed behind them, she worried her lower lip. What the hell had she been thinking? She was in Enzo Cassano’s hotel room. Had she lost her mind?

  Probably.

  Did she care?

  Not in the slightest.

  His hands settled upon her shoulders and he spun her to face him. She swallowed at the amount of passion in his gaze. He teased the nape of her neck with his fingertips as he lowered his head to hers.

  Oh yeah, had she said she didn’t care if this was smart or not?

  The last little bit of common sense vanished when his lips connected with hers. She was a good girl three hundred and sixty-five days of the year, normally. Surely being one for three hundred and sixty-four days for once would be okay.

  Slipping her arms around his neck, she drew him closer still, until their chests touched. Nothing else mattered aside from the man holding her.

  Chapter Three

  Enzo stared at the woman in the room with him. Halyn Jennings. She watched him with passion and desire. Her lids closed and his followed suit, allowing him to lose himself in the renewed kiss.

  As he moved her back, he toed off his shoes. They tumbled into bed, limbs entwined. He groaned as she rocked against his cock. She’d latched her legs around his waist and arms about his neck. He loved how tight she held him as if she wanted to climb in and never leave. That would be fine by him. Sitting up with her on his lap, he ripped her shirt off over her head. The moment her hands were free, she put them back on his shoulders.

  Enzo bit back a moan—she was stacked. Her full breasts pushed against her pale spearmint-coloured lace bra. He wanted to strip it from her and take her nipples into his mouth. He wanted to do many things to them. He took a deep breath, again smelling that scent around her. The one he couldn’t identify, but was quickly falling for.

  Taking one hand, he trailed his fingers down her sternum and the valley between her breasts. He watched her and was pleased that there was no shyness on her part. She had her full bottom lip in her tee
th and her breathing had become a bit harsh but she stared at him as he moved down her belly and to the button on her shorts.

  “Off,” he rumbled.

  Halyn leaned in and kissed him before gliding sensuously from his lap. She stood at the end of the bed, faced him, and with agonising slowness unbuttoned her jean shorts. They slid down her long legs to the floor where she stepped free of them. Halyn turned a small circle for him.

  Shit! Her panties showed off part of her ass cheeks. It was the identical colour of her bra, lace trimmed, and had a tiny pink bow on the back. If he got any harder, his shaft would be cutting off circulation to the rest of his body.

  He snagged her around the waist, drawing her close. She was soft all over. Running his hands up and down her body, he explored her curves.

  Enzo stared up at her and wound some of her curls in his hands. He’d never felt hair so silken before. She watched him and his heart turned over a few times at the trust and emotion in her gaze.

  “Halyn.” The word came out a murmur as he guided her in for another kiss.

  So responsive, she opened and welcomed him in. His hands skimmed around to her back and with a deft flick he undid her bra, removing it without breaking their kiss.

  He slid his hands free of those enticing locks of hair and cupped her breasts. A deep moan poured from her at a single touch. He swiped his thumbs along the nipples, pleased they tightened and pebbled.

  Breaking the kiss, he drew back. Lord, she was perfect. Her breasts were such a temptation, her dark skin beckoning to him. Leaning in, he took the left one in his mouth and suckled.

  She gripped his hair as she held him tight to her. Small tremors shook her and he flicked his tongue over the turgid point before nipping lightly at it. Her whimpers grew louder and he moved between her breasts, laving attention on them both while his hands settled upon her ass.

  “Enzo,” she panted.

  Instead of looking up at her, he kissed his way down over her flat belly to the lace trim of her panties. Then he glanced up at her. Her full lips were parted and her breath left her in sharp, staccato bursts.

  “Bellissima.”

  With a fluid move, he had her lying back on the bed and he hovered over her. Dark brown eyes stared at him as she released his hair to start on the buttons of his shirt. He didn’t have the patience and brushed her hands away to jerk on the sides and rip it open.